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202 



Bate 




PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS SECURED 
IN THE NORTHERN SECTION 
OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 



AN ADDRESS 

BY 

WILLIAM VAN ZANDT COX 




Class F^oa 



Book 






PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS SECURED 



IN THE 



NORTHERN SECTION 



OF THE 



DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 



BY THE 



BRIGHTWOOD AVENUE 
CITIZENS' ASSOCIATION 



AN ADDRESS 

BY 

WILLIAM VAN ZANDT COX 

At the Presentation of a Flag to the New Fire Engine 

House No. 13, Brightwood, D. C, 

August 6, 1897. 



WASHINGTON, D. C. 
PRESS OF W. F. ROBERTS 

1808 



AN ADDRESS OF WELCOME, 

Including Some Remarks of a Historical Character on the 

Improvements of the Northern Section of 

the District of Columbia. 

by 

WILLIAM VAN ZANDT COX. 




T the request of our executive committee, I have come 
all the way from the capital of the State of Tennes- 
see, where I was sent to represent the District of 
Columbia at the Tennessee Centennial Exposition 
by the District Commissioners, to make an address 
of welcome. It is therefore my happy privilege, as well as my 
duty, as president of the Brightwood Avenue Citizens' Asso- 
ciation and chairman of its executive committee, to extend to 
each of you a sincere and hearty welcome to the shady hills of 
Brightwood. 

This is a proud day for our Association. We celebrate today 
the completion of a new fire-engine house, and we rejoice that 
it is to be under the charge of Foreman John Sherman and his 
brave associate fire-fighters, Donaldson, Smith, Beall, Nelson, 
Bernhardt, Covington, and Metz, whom we also welcome to 
their new field of activity. 

That you may thoroughly appreciate the condition of this 
community, let me say, that less than a decade ago Brightwood 
was almost as inaccessible as Rock Creek Park is today — 
which, as you know, Mr. Commissioner, is but little better 
known than when prehistoric men chipped their stone axes in 
the quarries along its banks. 

In those days, unless we had horses to go to Washington we 
had either to walk or ride in a rickety stage-coach, with torn 
and flying curtains, known as the " Red Bird," which a curious 
old negro occasionally drove up and down the road. This 



means of transportation was so irregular, expensive, and tedious 
that I have seen some of our dignified and elderly members, 
with coats and vests under their arms, start out in the morning 
for the city, ahead of the coach, and at night, cool and calm, 
precede it into Bright wood. 

In 18S9 a venturesome capitalist extended the street railroad 
from Rock Creek Road to this village, and equipped it to his 
satisfaction with the discarded horses and bobtail cars of the 
Metropolitan Line. Although there was no certainty of reach- 
ing our destination, we all loyally patronized the improved 
method of transportation, claiming it to be superior to the "Red 
Bird." At first, being humanitarians, it was a pleasure to 
alight and help the fearless driver lift the car on the track and 
assist him push it and the balky horses up the hills; but as 
time rolled on and the roads grew muddy it became a trifle 
monotonous and irksome and our sympathy gradually disap- 
peared, until finally we became so callous that when the car 
got off the track (which it did on the least provocation) it was 
allowed to remain off and run in the middle of the road. 
Disgust then took the place of sympathy and rapidly increased 
against cars, horses, and company. Finally, unable to stand 
any longer what was facetiously called the "G. O. P." (get 
out and push) line, we organized on March 17, 1891, this asso- 
ciation for the purpose of securing better transportation facilities 
to and from Washington. 

Men were found who were willing to furnish the necessary 
capital to build an electric road. A bill was gotten through the 
House of Representatives and was about to pass the Senate, 
when some shrewd business men of Washington came to us 
one day when we were at the Capitol urging legislation and 
offered to save us all the trouble and worry of constructing and 
equipping the road. This we permitted them to do, and, I 
might add, although they have extended the road several miles 
beyond us, I have failed to hear, thus far, that they regret 
having come to our rescue. 

Improvements have followed on every side ; houses that had 
been without tenants for years were occupied. Brightwood 
Park, which was a corn field when I moved here, began to 



5 

build up until now it has a hundred houses. The advantage 
of early occupying Brightwood avenue was pointed out to the 
Washington Gaslight Company by our members, and that cor- 
poration was prevailed upon to extend its mains to and beyond 
us. Potomac water was piped from Fort Reno reservoir, more 
than four miles distant ; the postal facilities were improved, 
" the man and the sulky" disappearing, and we now have 
three mails daily, handled by our electric railroad. In the 
morning we read the papers at the breakfast table like our city 
guests and the evening papers are here before they are in many 
parts of Washington. A deep well was drilled opposite the 
hotel, supplying to the public excellent water ; the capacity of 
the public school was doubled, and is now too small for our 
needs although otherwise it is one of the best equipped school 
buildings, with as able and as progressive teachers as are to be 
found anywhere in the District. Streets have been opened, im- 
proved, widened, and straightened, and are lighted by elec- 
tricity, gas, and naptha ; sidewalks have been laid ; the police 
force of this precinct has been largely increased ; and, last of 
all as well as most important, a trunk sewer is now rapidly ap- 
proaching completion, a sewer over three miles in length that 
we have for years struggled to obtain, and finally secured not- 
withstanding opposition of the strongest kind. If the present 
generation does not fully appreciate what has been done for 
their health, the coming generation will bless the name of Dr. 
C. G. Stone, Austin P. Brown, Edward T. Bates, as well as 
other members of our executive committee. 

What a history of achievements for the Brightwood Avenue 
Citizens' Association! Few know how much the northern end 
of the District is indebted to this organization for improvements, 
and fewer appreciate that fact. But, in addition to those al- 
ready mentioned, Captain T. W. Lay, John L. Norris, N. E. 
Robinson, W. E. Nalley, George Field, Claude F. King, Major 
L. P. Williams, Daniel Ramey, W. A. Gatley, H. M. Gillman, 
the lamented Arthur L- Keene, and the late John Saul, deserve 
special praise for the work they so intelligently performed. 

What have you, let me ask, in Washington to add to your 
comfort that we country people have not ? One of the most 



6 

prominent men in Maryland wrote me last week: "The fire 
company on one side, your new granolithic sidewalk on the 
other, the rapid approach of the sewer up Brightwood avenue 
in the foreground, and the city very obviously advancing in 
blocks in the background make Brightwood one of the most 
progressive looking suburbs of Washington, and with a better 
prospect of being urban in the reasonable future than other 
more speculative localities." 

Is it strange, therefore, that this association, which has 
doubled in membership during the past three years, should feel 
most proud of the record showing what it has done toward 
making Brightwood the finest suburb of the Capital of the 
Nation — a suburb that has no equal in this country, so far as I 
know, in public improvements obtained at public expense ? 

Such a record, ladies and gentleman, could only be gained 
by enterprising, intelligent, and public-spirited citizens, organ- 
ized as an association. It required patience, fixedness of pur- 
pose, unity of action, and harmony. More than this, we have 
been fortunate in having active committees, presided over by 
expert chairmen possessing excellent judgment, and, with a 
cause worthy of success, how could an association do otherwise 
than succeed ? Indeed, had it been different, the associa- 
tion must have long since, like others, disbanded in the face of 
hopeless opposition and positive failure. 

It has for some time been the fixed policy of the Brightwood 
Avenue Citizens' Association to uphold the Commissioners, 
in questions not only local but general in character, whether 
extension of streets and sewers, the improvement of Rock 
Creek Park or the bond bill. 

The moral support of the community, we believe, is due to 
the Commissioners. We know them to be friends of every sec- 
tion of the entire District, and as such should receive the ap- 
proval of all worthy citizens. Having established a well-de- 
served reputation, no request of a public character has been 
made by this Association in recent years that the Commission- 
ers have not favorably considered. And I desire to thank you, 
Mr. Commissioner Wight, and your associates and predeces- 
sors, your assistants, especially Captains Beach and Burr, 



whom we are pleased to have with us, for the attention you all 
have given to our needs. We fully appreciate your trying po- 
sitions, and in the future as in the past, it will be our pleasure 
to uphold you, so long as wisdom continues to characterize 
your actions. 

We desire to thank, through you, the members of the va- 
rious Committees in Congress, before whom we have so often 
appeared, for the fair treatment ever accorded our Association. 
They have not always carried out our wishes, it is true, but 
when they have failed, it has never been because the object we 
advocated was considered unworthy or selfish. It should be 
our duty to help Members of Congress more to understand the 
relationship between the District of Columbia and the Gen- 
eral Government, for we are utterly helpless without their aid. 
My experience has been that if you approach them as citizens 
of the District they appreciate it. In fact, I have never laid a 
matter of a public improvement before a Member of Congress 
and explained its merits to him that I have not been thanked 
by him for calling his attention to it, even when, for satisfac- 
tory reasons, it could not receive his support. 

Our Association, under our form of government, is the town 
council of that portion of the District extending from Florida 
avenue to the Maryland line, from the beautiful Soldiers' 
Home to still more beautiful Rock Creek National Park west 
of us. We have not only made plans, presented petitions, and 
adopted resolutions, but we have worked hard under cir- 
cumstances, at time ; most trying, for the welfare of the entire 
northern section of the District. It is my hope and sincere 
desire that united efforts may be directed toward street exten- 
sion, the cost of which is to be divided between the District 
and the nation ; a single car fare, a through ride to the centre 
of the city or a transfer to the Metropolitan or Capital Traction 
Companies' cars at a suitable transfer station to be built on 
available grounds on Bright wood avenue, near the Boundary; 
the opening of Rock Creek Park to the citizens of America ; 
and such other public improvements as are required until 
this region becomes the centre of future and greater Washing- 
ton. 



8 

What a contrast Brightwood avenue, that great thorough- 
fare to and from the Nation's Capital, with many comfortable 
homes in Petworth, Brightwood Park, and other subdivisions, 
and with over half a hundred houses to-day under construc- 
tion presents to the old Seventh-street pike, with tollgates and 
scarcely a house. 

Last spring, in company with General H. G. Wright, the 
veteran commander of the old Sixth Corps, and General D. S. 
Stanley, that superb soldier, who is with us to-night, I had 
the pleasure of examining the crumbling earthworks near 
yonder chapel, when General Wright said to me: "What 
changes have taken place in this region since 1864. There is 
not a man in the Sixth Army Corps who, over thirty years 
ago, came here on a double quick march to the help of his 
comrades in arms that would recognize the place or the old 
turnpike." At that time, when the fate of the Republic hung 
trembling in the balance — the high tide of the Confederate 
cause, on July 11 and 12, 1864, when Jubal Early could have 
captured the Federal Capital — Brightwood welcomed this com- 
mander and his soldiers, and to-day, amid these peaceful sur- 
roundings we welcome you, our honored guests, to historic 
Brightwood, with the remains of rifle-pit and tent marks on 
every side, silent reminders of those terrible days of war. 
Welcome to Brightwood, with its Fort Stevens, where the mar- 
tyred Lincoln stood exposed to the fire of rebel sharpshooters, 
the first and only time a President of the United States was 
ever in actual command of an army in battle, an event which 
will yet be marked by bronze and granite. 

We welcome you to Brightwood with its sacred Battle Cem- 
etery, where lie buried the men who fell in front of Stevens in 
defence of their country's flag. 

Welcome to that part of the District of Columbia where still 
remain the homes of the Blairs, the Lees, the Blagdens, the 
Shoemakers, the Lays, the Whites, the Rays and "Bleak 
House," the home of Alexander R. Shepard, the founder of 
greater Washington ! 

Welcome to "Emery Place," the country home of Matthew 
Gault Emery, the last mayor of Washington! "Emery Place," 



the headquarters and signal station of the Union Army, where 
in 1 86 1 the first Union flag in the northern end of the county 
of Washington was made by Mrs. John W. Pool and hoisted 
near the southwest corner of the Emery house. 

That same old flag floats there tonight, and, if you will pardon 
me, I will read an extract from a letter from Dr. B. G. Pool, 
the son of that noble woman : 

"In response to your letter received on the 19th, I went out 
to Chevy Chase Lake yesterday and procured from my mother 
the flag to which you referred. This flag was made in April, 
1 86 1, from such material as she happened to have on hand — as 
for some time after Sumter was fired on bunting was difficult 
to obtain. 

"It was made for the purpose of giving her boy a lesson in 
patriotism at a time when it was somewhat doubtful which flag 
would be flying over the Capitol in a few days. My father — 
John W. Pool — though not usually a very demonstrative 
man, entered into the spirit of the occasion and cut and raised 
a pole at the west end of the grape arbor, from which for a 
time my little flag defiantly floated. The first troops I remem- 
ber ever to have seen were mounted regulars who rode down 
past Brightwood. When these soldiers appeared it was a ques- 
tion as to which side they belonged, but when I took my little 
flag down to the roadside and waved it, it received the due mili- 
tary salute, much to the delight of my boyish heart." 

What a contrast between that flag-raising and this occasion, 
on which we raise our country's colors over the home of these 
peaceful protectors of our property. 

Welcome to modern Brightwood, with all its improvements 
and conveniences, the highest, healthiest and most desirable 
home site at the Nation's Capital. 



10 



program 
•«•► 

Invocation . . Rev. H. M. Reed, Pastor, Emery Chapel 

Singing by Choir 

Address of Welcome .... Mr. William V. Cox 

Music by the Band 

Our New Engine House . . . Mr. Edward T. Bates 

Music — (Red, white and Blue) 
Pupils of the Brightwood Public School 

Prof. W. E. N alley, Principal 

Recitation — (The Star Spangled Banner) . . Emery Cox 

Music— (Hail Columbia) 
Pupils Brightwood Public School 

Presentation of Flag — Dr. C. G. Stone 

Acceptance . Hon. John B. Wight, Commissioner, D. C. 

America . . Pupils and Audience 

After the close of the exercises the regular August meeting of 
the Association will be held, at which addresses will be made by 
Mr. Louis P. Shoemaker, Mr. Blair Lee, Mr. C. C. Lancaster, Mr. 
Austin P. Brown, Dr. A. P. Fardon and others, who will speak on 
the opening up of Rock Creek Park, Street Extensions, the Bond 
Bill, and other topics of interest to the community. 

The District Commissioners will be present. 



FLAG PRESENTATION. 

Brightwood Citizens Donate a Banner to the Fire 
Department. 

******* 

The exercises in connection with the presentation were of a 
most attractive character, and were in the nature of a lawn 
fete, being held in the beatiful grounds of "Emery Place," 
across the avenue from the engine house. The grounds were 
illuminated with Chinese lanterns, which added greatly to the 
beauty of the scene, and the platform in the center, on which 
the addresses were made, was tastefully decorated with flags, 
while a baud stationed at one side, at stated intervals, rendered 
airs suitable for the time and place. 

CHILDREN TOOK PART. 

Pupils of the Brightwood Public School took part in the 
exercises, and sang patriotic airs, which were enthusiastically 
applauded, as was every feature of the program. 

Invitations had been extended by the committee in charge 
of the affair, and they were pretty generally accepted. The 
seats which had been provided in front of the platform were 
early filled, and there were a large number of persons standing 
and pushing their way to the platform to hear what the speak- 
ers had to say. There were many ladies, in light summer 
costumes, in attendance, and they appeared to enjoy the festi- 
vities to the highest degree, while their presence was an in- 
spiration to the speakers and an added attraction to the re- 
mainder of the audience. Many were content to simply stroll 
about the velvety lawns under the yellow glowing Chinese 
lanterns and watch the effect from the shadows of the trees. 

Across the way was the engine house, spick and span, illum- 
inated in honor of the event, doors were wide open for inspec- 
tion, and the firemen, in their handsome uniforms, in front. 
During the evening hundreds of persons who had accepted the 
invitation to be present at the exercises made an inspection of 
the engine house, the engine itself, looked over the fine 
horses in their stalls and plied the fire laddies with hundreds of 
questions concerning the operation of the apparatus and the 
use of the different objects they saw, the methods of extin- 
guishing fires and other matters. 



12 



GUESTS PRESENT. 



The exercises were begun on the platform in the Emery- 
Place grounds soon after 7 o'clock. 

On the platform were : Commissioner John B. Wight, As- 
sistant Engineer Commissioners Beach and Burr, Chief Parris 
of the fire department, Governor Stanley of the Soldiers' Home 
and Assistant Governor Bernard, Dr. A. P. Fardon, Dr. 
John Lavender, Mr. Andrew L,oeffler, Mr. Lewis P. Shoe- 
maker, Messrs. Edwin A. Newman, M. A. Ballinger, H. L. 
Biscoe, Dr. C. G. Stone, Superintendent O'Brien and General 
Manager Williams of the Brightwood Railway Company, Fore- 
man Sherman of the Brightwood engine company, and others. 

After quite an elaborate display of pyrotechnics, an invoca- 
tion was offered by Rev. H. M. Reed, pastor of Emery Chapel, 
who asked Divine blessing and guidance on the village and the 
new acquisition. After this the choir of the chapel of which 
he is pastor sang several selections. 

Mr. William V. Cox made the address of welcome which 
was listened to with the greatest interest by the audience. [It 
appears elsewhere in this pamphlet] . 

MR. BATES' REMARKS. 

After the band had played several tunes Mr. Edward T. 
Bates made an address on " Our New Engine House," in which 
he detailed the struggle which had been made for the location 
of an engine in their midst by the citizens of Brightwood, from 
start to finish, their efforts being finally crowned with glowing 
victory, of which the occasion then was an evidence. 

Patriotism was raised to a higher pitch by the rendition of 
"Red, White and Blue" by the Brightwood school pupils, 
Prof. W. E. Nalley, principal, and Master Emery Cox, son of 
Mr. W. V. Cox, recited " The Star Spangled Banner." 

The Brightwood school children sang "Hail Columbia," 
and when the enthusiasm which had been roused by this had 
somewhat subsided the real feature of the occasion took place. 



THE PRINCIPAL FEATURE. 

This was the presentation of the flag to Commissioner Wight 
by Dr. C. G. Stone, prominently connected with the Bright- 
wood Citizens' Association. He praised the Commissioners 
for their action in allowing Brightwood to have the engine 
house, and declared that no more fitting sign of gratitude, in 



»3 

his opinion, could be shown than by the presentation of the 
banner of liberty, which he tendered the Commissioner as the 
representative of fire company No. 13 of Brightwood. 

Commissioner Wight made a speech of acceptance, brief and 
to the point. 

" I can assure the members of the association," he said, 
' ' that it is with the greatest pleasure I accept the flag. I do 
not know of a more beautiful and appropriate gift on any oc- 
casion, particularly such a one as this, than is this emblem of 
liberty and patriotism, which is about to be unfurled." 



NUMBER 13 NOT UNLUCKY. 

He referred to the fact that the number of the engine house 
was 13, but he was certain, he said, it was not an unlucky num- 
ber, as was proven by the number of original stars in the flag, 
and that of the colonies. He stated that he was proud of 
Brightwood, as in it could be seen the development of the city. 

Chief Parris received the flag and immediately turned it over 
to Foreman Sherman of the engine company. An exhibition 
drill, at a signal from Chairman Cox of the association, was 
given by the fire company, and round after round of applause 
was evoked when the flag was at last floating from the staff of 
the engine house. — Washing to?i Star, August 7, 1897. 




'&m 



14 



BRIGHTWOOD'S NEW FLAG. 

The presentation of a handsome new flag to the fire depart- 
ment of Brightwood last evening was an interesting affair. It 
was an event in which all the residents of that beautiful and 
thriving suburb of the National Capital are deeply interested, 
and they were all there to do honor to the occasion, not only 
the male portion of the population, but the ladies in great num- 
bers, their presence lending additional charm and interest to 
the ceremony. 

The exercises preceding the raising of the new flag over the 
new engine house were held on the beautiful lawn of the Emery 
Mansion, immediately opposite the engine house, on Bright- 
wood avenue. The mansion is now occupied by Mr. William 
V. Cox, the president of the Brightwood Citizens' Association, 
who kindly tendered the use of the grounds for the occasion. 
Near the center of the lawn, which was illuminated by hun- 
dreds of Chinese lanterns, was erected a large platform, on 
which the exercises preliminary to the raising of the flag were 
held. The stand, which was profusely decorated with the 
national colors in flags and bunting, was brilliantly lighted by 
electric lights, and a hundred or more Chinese lanterns. 

Across the avenue, immediately in front of the stand, was the 
new engine, handsomely decorated and brightly lighted up. 

It was, indeed, a gala occasion, one which will long be re- 
membered by the residents of Brightwood. Everything that 
could be done by the arrangements committee for the enter- 
tainment of the home folks and visitors was done. This feature 
of the evening's entertainment was, of course, a most decided 
success. 

In front of the platform were chairs and benches for the 
accommodation of the audience, but five hundred seats did not 
accommodate one thousand or more persons, the overflow being 
quite content to stand. 

The exercises were opened with prayer by Rev. H. M. Reed, 
pastor of Emery Chapel, before which, however, was a display 
of fireworks. An interesting and wholly unexpected incident 
was the exhibition drill by the fire department, which took 
place on signal from Mr. William V. Cox, the chairman of the 
meeting. It was given just after the speech of acceptance by 
Commissioner Wight, and reflected great credit on Foreman 
Sherman and his corps of fire laddies. 



15 

Following the prayer by the Rev. Dr. Reed the choir of 
Emery Chapel sang several patriotic airs. 

On the platform with President Cox were Commissioner John 
B. Wight, Gov. Stanley, of Soldiers' Home; R. F. Bernard, 
deputy governor Soldiers' Home; Col. Devoe, L. R. Shoe- 
maker, Dr. A. P. Fardon, Thomas O'Brien, superintendent 
Brightwood Railway Company ; Charles P. Williams, general 
manager Brightwood Railway Company; Andrew Loefler, Ed. 
A. Newman, Capt. Townsend, H. L. Biscoe, M. A. Ballinger, 
president Columbia Heights Citizens' Association; Austin P. 
Brown, Dr. W. B. Tindall, Mr. Brooks, Mr. King, Dr. John 
Lowndes, Mr. E. E. Ramey, Mr. C. C. Lancaster. 

The address of welcome was made by Mr. W.V. Cox, presi- 
dent of the Brightwood Citizens' Association, who, in a few 
appropriate remarks, extended a cordial welcome to all. 

Mr. Edward T. Bates, who spoke of " Our New Engine 
house," gave a brief history of station No. 13 and the erection 
of the building. 

The pupils of the Brightwood public school, under the direc- 
tion of Prof. W. E. Nalley, principal of the school, accom- 
panied by the band of the Second Regiment, National Guard, 
sang " Red, White and Blue," in splendid style. 

Master Emery Cox, son of President Cox, recited the "Star 
Spangled Banner." 

The honor of presenting the flag devolved on Dr. C. : . Stone, 
one of the most prominent and active members of the Bright- 
wood Citizens' Association. It was the gift, he said, of the 
residents of the northwest section of the District. 

After commending the Commissioners for all they had done 
for Brightwood, in behalf of the residents and the citizens' as- 
sociation, he presented the flag to Commissioner Wight, rep- 
resenting the District authorities. 

Commissioner Wight accepted the flag in a brief speech. 

In conclusion he referred to the establishment of the fire 
station. It is No. 13, which number, he said, some people 
considered unlucky. He did not, however, for he remembered 
that when our beautiful flag was first unfurled, it had only 
thirteen stars on it, and that flag surely was never unlucky. 

At the conclusion of the exercises an open meeting of the 
association was held, and addresses were delivered by Messrs. 
Louis P. Shoemaker, Austin P. Brown and C. C. Lancaster. 

Commissioner Wight visited the engine house. He was met 
by Foreman Sherman, who made the laddies give an exhibition 
of the promptness with which they can respond to the fire alarm. 

Before leaving the firemen were introduced to Mr. Wight by 
Foreman Sherman. 



i6 



At the close of the meeting of the association, the distin- 
guished visitors were entertained at lunch by President Cox at 
the Brightwood Hotel. 

The committee of arrangements was composed of the follow- 
ing gentlemen: W. V. Cox, chairman; C. F. King, Thomas 
O'Brien, C. G. Stone, M. D., Austin P. Brown, and Edward 
T. Bates. — Washington Times, August 7, 1897. 




